12 facts you might not have known about St George and his day
Here are some surprising facts about the dragon-slayer
Last updated 23rd Apr 2020
St. George's Day is traditionally celebrated on 23rd April each year - especially in England, as he's the patron saint of England! But there are some surprising facts about the 'dragon-slayer' that you might now know - for example, who knew St. George, the patron saint of England, isn't actually English?!
Read on for 12 interesting facts you never knew about St. George the dragon-slayer...
1) St. George never set foot on English soil
Yep! St. George never actually visited England, but was hugely popular with English kings Edward I, who had George's emblem on his banners, and Edward III, who owned some of his blood... Ew! St. George's cross was first introduced to represent England by Henry VIII.
2) St. George was adopted in England because of his story
The story in The Golden Legend, about his slaying of a dragon, was similar to an Anglo-Saxon legend.
3) However, he didn't save a maiden from a dragon
Of course, dragons don't exist, so some of the story was fabricated - as many old tales are! According to English Heritage, images of George with the dragon that we know today are all from the 9th century, about 500 years after his death. They could have originally been representations of good and evil, but were taken more literally in the Middle Ages.
4) St. George wasn't English
He really wasn't! St. George was born in Cappadocia, part of modern day Turkey.
5) St. George was a Roman soldier
Although we can't know for sure, it's most likely that he was an officer in the Roman army, rather than a knight in shining armour, as many stories and images depict him as.
6) He was put to his death on the 23rd April 303
St. George refused to give up Christianity, and is now described as a martyr as he died for being a Christian.
7) Edward III made St. George the patron saint of England
It happened when he founded England’s order of knights (Order of the Garter) in 1350.
8) The date of St. George's Day occasionally changes if it falls close to Easter
Apparently, Church of England rules stipulate that no saint days should be celebrated between Palm Sunday and the Sunday after Easter Day, so if the 23rd April falls in between that time, it must be moved. In 2011, it was moved from its usual date to 2nd May and in 2014 it was moved to 28th April.
9) St. George's Day is celebrated in a number of different countries around the world
St. George isn't just the patron saint of England...
10) St. George is also the Patron Saint of many other countries
Such as Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia.
11) The flag of England comes from St. George's Cross
It's used as part of the Union Jack flag used in the UK.
12) The country Georgia is named after St. George
What a legacy!